Summary - 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

Spiritual gifts in church ministry: Paul lists eight gifts in v.28 and then renames seven of them in v.29. His desire is to point out gifts prominent for initial evangelism in the church. No one has all of them, nor is the list complete. Gifts previously listed in verses 12:8-10 do not completely match the ones cited here. The gifts are not hierarchical and do not give greater importance to those so gifted.

Summary - 1 Corinthians 12:21-26

Body of Christ: This section is a continuation of Paul's comparison of a human body to the body of Christ. Not all parts are prominent, yet all are worthy, useful, and essential. When one part suffers, so does the whole. If one part is honored, so is the whole. It is that way in the body of Christ.

Analysts point out that Paul's parallel to the church precludes boasting and pride of one member over another. Some covered, some uncovered, no body part (member) survives alone and no part is less important than another. In reverse logic, Paul states that the covered parts are more honored than the uncovered parts. As an aside, this contrasts the Jewish with the Greek culuture since Greeks found no shame attached to nakednees in gymnastic events (Baker, p183). Applying lessons of the physical body to the church body illustrated the similar connection between all members: Poorer members cannot be considered less important than others, distress of any individual needs attention, and all members have value.